As you sat on your Facebook scrolling away or when you went for a walk outside to enjoy the first week of spring, did you even consider how that might affect your eyes? Did you wash your hands before the last time you rubbed your eyes or put your contacts in? Would you have ever thought that your diet could impact not just your waistline, but also your future ability to see?

Most of us are probably just pondering on these thoughts for the first time as they are just being brought to our attention. However, there is a lot you can be doing to protect the eyes that made someone fall in love with you and that allow you to watch that beautiful sunset you enjoy so much. SO let’s get to work!

Rock your shades! They are more than just a fashion statement and if you get them polarized, they can actually protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Think about that next time you go for a long drive in the middle of the day or lay out on the beach staring straight up into the light. There is also a wealth of benefits from sports goggles and protective eyewear for the workplace if you work with chemicals or near any projectiles that could potentially splinter and use your eye as a target.

Diet matters. Dark and leafy greens are especially great for preserving your vision. I know what you’ve heard about carrots, and while they aren’t magical eyesight savers, they, along with other fruits and vegetables lower your risk of diabetes and other conditions that could ultimately result in worsening or loss of vision. So get those fruits and veggies in! Omega 3s are also beneficial for eye health according to research, so if you’re into seafood like Salmon, today is your lucky day.

You already know smoking is bad. It makes any problem worse and creates health concerns where there otherwise might not have been any. The same applies for eye health. Smoking increases your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, which could lead to loss of vision. I think we both know that a puff of a cigarette isn’t worth the ability to see.

Finally, be kind to your eyes. Wash your hands before touching them and properly disinfect your contact lenses before putting them in. Your eyes are extremely sensitive and the last thing you want is an infection or irritation. Keep in mind that even rubbing them the wrong way can scratch your cornea and no one wants that. Even being on the computer right now is straining your eyes. Make sure you’re giving them a break every so often by looking away and blinking so they don’t get dry and tired. Also, it is easily pushed to the side or forgotten, but get annual eye screenings. Some places even perform them for free if cost is a concern, but they’ll be able to alert you to any eye health issues or even ease the eye strain by getting you into a new pair of glasses or contacts.